Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s mining sector has entered 2026 with support from strong commodity prices for gold, copper, zinc and tin, as well as continued momentum in uranium production. The Chamber of Mines of Namibia said in its January and February mining update that higher commodity prices are strengthening export earnings and government revenue. The chamber said elevated gold prices and firm copper fundamentals are improving cash flow for mining companies. “At the same time, uranium remains strategically important amid sustained global interest in nuclear energy, positioning Namibia favourably within the global energy transition landscape. Stronger base metal prices, particularly zinc…

Chamwe Kaira Namibia placed roughly in the middle of the global rankings in the Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2025 conducted by the Fraser Institute. The country’s overall investment attractiveness score was about 52.6, placing it 59th out of 84 jurisdictions assessed. The survey evaluates mining destinations worldwide based on mineral potential and policy attractiveness as perceived by mining executives. The results place Namibia in the middle of the global rankings. The survey notes that while the country has strong geological potential, policy concerns are affecting investor confidence. Mining executives who participated in the survey raised several issues related to…

Staff Writer  Africa recorded the highest aviation accident rate among global regions in 2025, according to the International Air Transport Association’s latest annual safety report. The region recorded seven accidents during the year. The accident rate improved from 12.13 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 7.86 in 2025. Despite the improvement, Africa still recorded the highest accident rate globally. The figure remains below the region’s five-year average of 9.37 accidents per million sectors. Fatality risk in the region increased from zero in 2024 to 2.19 in 2025. The most common accident types were runway excursions and incidents classified as…

Chamwe Kaira  Retail conditions in Namibia are among the factors affecting profitability at regional supermarket group Choppies Enterprises Limited, which expects lower earnings for the six months ended 31 December 2025. Choppies Enterprises Limited expects its profit after tax from continuing operations to fall by between 28% and 38% for the six months ended 31 December 2025. The Botswana-based supermarket group said profit after tax from total operations is forecast to decline by between 4% and 14% compared with the same period last year. In a trading statement to the Botswana Stock Exchange and JSE Limited, the company said several regional…

Staff Writer  Namibian private equity firm Tulive Private Equity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tanzania to support the establishment of a carbon registry and carbon agency in Zanzibar. The agreement was signed on 26 February 2026 and forms part of the firm’s expansion into other African markets. The proposed carbon registry will create a system to collect carbon-related revenue from aviation and maritime operators transporting cargo and passengers to and from Zanzibar. Unlike traditional carbon credit or tax systems that focus on emissions produced within a country, the proposed registry will target operators whose air…

Chamwe Chaira  Letshego Bank (Namibia) Limited’s capital adequacy ratio declined to 28.1% for the year ended 31 December 2025, down from 30.2% in the previous year. The capital adequacy ratio measures a bank’s capital against its risk-weighted assets to ensure it can absorb losses, as required by the Bank of Namibia. Despite the decline, Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Limited reported higher earnings for the year. Profit after tax increased by 20.8% to N$505.8 million, compared with N$418.8 million recorded in 2024. Total comprehensive income and headline earnings also rose by 20.8% to N$505.8 million. Operating profit increased by 24.3% to N$577.9…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia aims to increase foreign direct investment and expand export markets over the next five years under targets set in the medium-term expenditure framework for the Ministry of International Relations and Trade. The plan outlines a steady rise in foreign direct investment inflows. Annual FDI is expected to reach N$207 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. It is projected to increase to N$223.6 billion in 2025/26, N$236.9 billion in 2026/27, N$246.4 billion in 2027/28 and N$251.3 billion by 2028/29. The government also plans to increase the number of Namibian businesses accessing export markets. The share of firms receiving…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s fiscal outlook remains manageable in the short term but faces growing pressure from structural weaknesses, according to analysis by FNB Namibia economist Cheryl Emvula. She said the 2026/27 National Budget outlines a fiscal path that still functions for now but shows signs of strain. Revenue performance has weakened. Government collections for the 2025/26 financial year were revised down to N$87.4 billion. This figure is below the original projection of N$89.4 billion and the N$89.1 billion collected in the previous year. Revenue is expected to increase to N$89.8 billion in the 2026/27 financial year. The projected increase relies…

Staff Writer  Bank Windhoek honoured estate agents and property agencies during its Central Estate Agent Awards held in Windhoek on 6 March. The event recognised performance in property finance, transaction volumes and specialist categories across the central region. Bank Windhoek chief financial officer and acting executive officer of specialist finance Zenaune Kamberipa said the property market recorded measured growth during the past year. He said rising house prices and steady rental demand supported the market despite global and domestic economic pressures. However, Kamberipa said affordability constraints, income pressures and unemployment continue to limit wider access to homeownership. Representatives from Dr…

Staff Writer  Old Mutual Namibia has announced that three of its senior legal professionals have been recognised on the inaugural Legal 500 General Counsel (GC) Powerlist: Namibia 2026, launched in Windhoek. Charmaine Burger, head of legal and company secretary, Charmaine Gouws, assistant group company secretary, and Marco Vollgraaff, head of compliance at Old Mutual Namibia, were named among Namibia’s leading in‑house legal professionals. The GC Powerlist, published by Legal 500, recognises exceptional general counsel and senior in-house legal professionals who play a critical role in shaping strong governance, managing risk, and supporting sustainable business growth in an increasingly complex regulatory…